Wedge type chuck



Feb. 20, 1940.

A. E. CHURCH WEDGE TYPE CHUCK Filed March 14, 1939 2' Sheets-Sheet l s s of NN E Church Mun-s:

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 2,191,3'z1 '.WEDGETYPE-GHUGK Albert Church, ew Britain, Conn. Application March 14, 1939. Serial No. 261,849

' 3 Claims. (61. 279-121) The inventionrelates tochucks ofgthe general type in which wedges are 'provided'for operating the jaws, and it aims primarily to provide a novel construction in which. the combined actions of screws and wedges are utilized for jaw actuation. Another aim is to provide novel jaw-actuating means which may be operated 'to produce simultaneous movement of all ofthe jaws or to permit independent jaw adjustment.

I A further objectis to provide a chuck of relatively simple and inexpensive" construction, yet one which will be unusually strong and durable.

With the foregoing in view, the invention re- V sides in the novel subject niatterhereinafter de scribed and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings. I

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly broken away and in section, one ofthe jaws being removed.

Figure 2 is avertical sectional view on line 2-2 ofFig.1. g

Figure 3 is a 'section'of one of the wedge blocks.

j Figure 4 is. an elevation of the wedge block shown in Fig. 3 looking ma direction at right 'angles. l v

Figure v5 is an end elevation of the same wedge block. f

Figure 6 is a side elevation ,of one of the master v aws. I

Figure 7 is an inner .sideelevation of the jaw shown inFig. 6. 1

Figure 8 is an and elevation of the same jaw.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of one of the bushings for the wedge-guiding openings.

Figure 10 is an elevation showing the relation of the screw driving gears and the ring gear.

A preferred construction has been illustrated and will be rather specifically described, with the extend rearwardly from the guideways l2 and open into the sides of the openings l4 toward 55 the chuck axis, the linings l5 being of course provided with suitable notches l1 registering with said recesses 16.

The jaws J may be of any suitable type but the inner sides of these jaws are provided with rearward projections l8 received partially in the openings [4 and partially in the recesses It, said projections l8 being of T-shape in cross section and having their head portions l9 obliquely disposed in rearwardlyjconverging relation with the chuck axis.

Wedge blocks 20 are slidably mounted in the openings [4 in contact with the linings [5 thereof, to slide forwardly and rearwardly, said wedge blocks having longitudinal grooves 2| of T-shaped cross section which are obliquely disposed and slidably interfltted with the rearward projections I 8 of the jaws J, whereby sliding movement of the blocks 20 will affect jaw actuation. To allow extreme forward movement of the wedge blocks v 20, the rear sides of the jaws J may be formed with recesses 22, which recesses receive the front portions of said wedge-blocks 20 when the latter occupy their extreme forward positions. The bevels shown at Ben the wedge blocks 20 are principally to facilitate the formation of the.

T-grooves 2| in said wedge blocks.

Screws 24 are provided for operating the wedge blocks 20, 'said screws being threaded into said blocks. The rear portions of these screws pass through thrust rings 25 which arethreaded into the rear ends of the openings"l '4 and abut the linings l5, saids'crews being provided with gears 26 which abut the rear sides of said thrust rings. A ring gear 21 surrounds the gears 26 and meshes therewith to effect simultaneous rotation of all of the screws 24 when said ring gear is rotated. This ring gear, however, may be provided with blank portions 28 to disengage from the gears 26 when said ring gear is turned to a predetermined position, to permit independent rotation of the screws 24 to effect independent jaw adjustment if desired. I The rear ends of the screws may be provided with sockets 29 to receive a suitable wrench or the like by means of which they may be turned independently when their gears 26 are out of mesh with the ring gear 21. With the gears in mesh, however, use of a tool to rotateany screw 24 will of course drive the ring gear and effect rotation of the other screws.

Any suitable provision may be made for rotating the ring gear 21. Sockets 30 are shown in its periphery to receive a lever, and gear teeth 3| are shownon Said periphery for engagement with a power-operated pinion if desired. I have also illustrated a wrench-actuated pinion 32 mounted in the body l and meshing with the ring gear 21 for operating the latter.

A back plate 33 is secured by screws or the like 34 to the rear side of the body Ill and coacts therewith in forming a head carrying the jaws and the jaw-operating mechanism, said back plate having a chuck seat 35 to receive the usual chuck-driving member, to which the entire chuck may be secured by bolts 36. The back plate 33 is recessed at 31 to receive the gears 26 and is provided with roller thrust bearings 38 engaging the rear sides of said gears. The back plate also lies against the rear sides of. the ring gear 2'! and holds the latter in the circular groove 39 formed in the body I0.

26 in operative position, all rearward thrusts of the screws 24 are received by the thrust bearings 38 and all forward thrusts are received by the thrust rings 25,,preventing said screws from' having any lost motions Whenever the ring gear 21 is in mesh with the gears 26, turning of said ring gear will simultaneously drive all of the screws 24, thus sliding the wedge blocks 20 to efiect simultaneous movement of all of the jaws J.. However, when the ring gear 21 is turned to position its blank portions 28 opposite the gears 26, any or all of the screws 24 may be independently rotated to effect independent jaw adjustments.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the objects of the invention, and while preferred features have been illus-- trated, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

It will of course be obvious that the jaws J may be of any desired construction and that any number of these jaws may be provided. The jaws shown each have a master jaw 40 of the serrated type, a top jaw 41 adjustably secured to said master jaw, and a top jaw key 42 engaging the serrations of said master jaw, all of which is well known.

I claim:

1. A chuck comprising a body having jaw guidewaysin its front portion and wedge guiding openings extending from said guideways to its rear side, jaws in said guideways, jaw-operating wedges slidable in said openings and oper- The back plate thus holds the ring gear 21, the screws 24 and gears atively connected with said jaws, screws parallel with the body axis and threaded into said wedges for sliding the same, gears on said screws disposed behind said body, thrust rings threaded into the rear ends of said openings and abutting the front sides of said gears, a back plate secured to the rear side of said body and provided with thrust bearings abutting the rear sides of said gears, and a ring gear mounted between said body and said back plate and meshing with said gears.

2. A chuck comprising a head having radial jaw guideways in its face, a central opening, wedge-guiding openings extending rearwardly from said jaw guideways and spaced around said central opening, and recesses between said central opening and said wedge-guiding openings, said recesses extending rearwardly from said jaw guideways and opening into said wedge-guiding openings; jaws in said guideways having rearward projections extending partly into said wedge-guiding openings and partly into said recesses, wedge blocks slidably interfitted with said rearward projections and mounted slidably in said wedge-guiding openings, said wedge blocks and projections having coaoting wedging portions for operating said jaws when said wedge blocks are slid, and a plurality of screws rotatably mounted in said head and threaded into said wedge blocks for sliding the latter.

3. A chuck comprising a head having radial jaw guideways in its, face, a central opening, wedge-guiding openings extending rearwardly from said jaw guideways and spaced around said central opening, and radial recesses between said central opening and said wedge-guiding openings, said recesses extending rearwardly from said jaw guideways and opening into said Wedge-guiding openings; jaws in said guideways having rearward projections extending partly into said wedge-guiding openings and partly into said recesses, said rearward projections being of T-shaped cross section, wedge blocks slidable in said wedge-guiding openings and having grooves of T-shaped cross section slidably receiving said T-shaped rearward projections, said projections and grooves having oblique wedge surfaces for operating said jaws when said wedge blocks are slid, and a plurality of screws rotatably mounted in said head and threaded into said wedge blocks for sliding the latter.

ALBERT E. CHURCH. 

